10 Movie Characters Who Look Nothing Like Their Source Material
5. Keira Knightley As Elizabeth Bennet - Pride And Prejudice
When initially asked for his take on Elizabeth Bennet in 2005's Pride and Prejudice, Mr Darcy describes his eventual wife's visage as "tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me". Charming stuff.
This sentiment is echoed by the film's source material and the 1813 novel of the same name, Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. While Elizabeth is considered to be an attractive young woman, her eldest sister Jane (Rosamund Pike) is considered to be the "beauty" of the Bennet family.
As such, choosing Keira Knightley for this role was probably not the most convincing course of action. Knightley is magnificent in her role, capturing the courageous and quick-witted nature of her charge with polished ease, but she also happens to be an exceedingly beautiful woman. As such, the notion of her playing a character who isn't physically attractive enough to capture the attention of Matthew Macfayden's Mr. Darcy comes off as somewhat inauthentic.
Indeed, Joe Wright was initially reluctant to cast Knightley as Bennet on this basis. The director was brought around after eventually meeting the actress, deciding that her tomboyish attitude would make her a perfect fit for the part of Elizabeth.